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Background: We evaluated the strategies of resources partitioning among species, dietary overlap and niche breadth in an assemblage of carnivores integrated by top predators (Puma concolor and Panthera onca) and mesopredators (Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, Puma yagouaroundi, Nasua narica and Urocyon cinereoargenteus). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms explaining the coexistence among species at a temperate zone in central Mexico. Results: We collected 259 scats of carnivores and identified 45 food items. The analysis showed the common consumption of mammals in the assemblage, and the correspondence analysis showed three guilds: 1) top predators associated with the use of medium-sized mammals and the exclusive consumption of large mammals, 2) carnivore mesopredators associated with the consumption of small mammals and birds and 3) omnivore mesopredators associated with the consumption of arthropods and plants. The dietary overlap analysis indicated a low overlap between guilds and a high overlap within them. Top predators were specialist foragers, whilst the carnivore mesopredators showed generalist consumption. Conclusions: The coexistence in this carnivore assemblage seems to be related to body size, morphology and prey segregation because such characteristics suggest the presence of three guilds. We observed high dietary overlap within guilds and resource partitioning between guilds.

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Functional diversity in animal communities: a review with emphasis on vertebrates.-Functional diversity is the variety of functional roles that species have in ecosystems. As its study in animal communities is still emerging, the aim of this review is to provide an informative reference on the basic concepts and advances in the quantification of functional diversity and its applications to vertebrates. The most studied groups to date are fish and birds, followed by mammals. Amphibians and reptiles have received less attention despite their high potential for the study of functional diversity. Protocols are available for the direct and standardized measure of functional traits in birds, amphibians and freshwater fish. No guides are yet available, however, for mammals and reptiles and functional traits are usually taken from the literature. To complement and to promote the measurement of functional traits in vertebrates, we provide a list of potential traits for the analysis of functional diversity in different subgroups of mammals and in reptiles.